Etihad Rail is planning to undertake the construction of a new high-speed rail line connecting Abu Dhabi with Dubai in the UAE.

The design speed of the trains running on the network will be 350 kilometres an hour (km/h) and the operating speed will be 320km/h.

HSR programme will be constructed in four phases, gradually adding additional connectivity to other areas within the UAE.

Phase 1 involves the construction of a railway line connecting Abu Dhabi and Dubai, which is estimated to be operational by 2030.

Phase 2 will involve the development of an inner-city railway network with 10 stations within Abu Dhabi city.

Phase 3 of the railway network involves the construction of a connection between Abu Dhabi and Al-Ain.

Phase 4 involves the development of an inter-emirate connection between Dubai and Sharjah.

The 150-kilometre (km) first phase of the HSR will stretch from the Al-Zahiyah area in Abu Dhabi to Al-Jaddaf in Dubai. The project’s civil works have been split into two packages (Abu Dhabi and Dubai), comprising four sections (1A/1B/1C/1D). The Abu Dhabi package includes sections 1A, 1B and 1D. The Dubai package includes section 1C.

The scope of these sections includes:

Phase 1A: Al-Zahiyah to Yas Island (25.8km)

Phase 1B: Yas Island to the border of Abu Dhabi/Dubai (64.2km)

Phase 1C: Abu Dhabi/Dubai border to Al-Jaddaf (52.1km)

Phase 1D: Abu Dhabi airport delta junction and connection with Abu Dhabi airport station (9.2km)

The US$14,600 million project includes the following:

A. Enabling Works (Package 1 - From Abu Dhabi City to Border Abu Dhabi):

1. Removal and relocation of all street furniture from the Road Median of the E12 and E311 for 56 km

2. Installation of traffic sign gantries, cameras, high mast lighting, street lighting kiosks, signboards

3. Landscaping works

2. Re-alignment and widening of the E311 and E12 for approx. 3km each

3. Installation of TL5 protection barriers along 56 km of road median utilities

4. Relocation/protection of utilities from the HSR RoW including but not limited to ADDC Water, ADDC Power, ADNOC Gas, ADMCC, ADSSC, ADM Irrigation, GHQ, TRANSCO 132/220/400 kV UG diversions, TRANSCO water diversion

5. Diversion/relocation of 220 kV and 400 kV OHTL lines

B. Enabling Works (Package 2 - From Abu Dhabi Border to Jaddaf Dubai):

1. Relocation/protection of utilities from the HSR RoW

2. DEWA 132 kV OHTL to Underground (approx. 17 km)

3. DEWA 220 / 400 kV OHTL (diversion, relocation and clearance improvement)

4. DEWA water line relocation (approx. 17 km)

5. DEWA 11/33 kV (relocation and protection systems)

6. DU/Etisalat (GSM tower relocation)

7. DM irrigation relocation and protection systems

8. Diversion/relocation of 220 kV and 400 kV OHTL lines

C. Abu Dhabi Civil Works Package:

Civil Work package:

1. Remaining early works

2. Temporary and permanent works

3. Construction of tunnels including MEP works

4. TSI compliance for emergency exits (number/distance of cross passages, shafts and ERP)

5. Installation of the tunnel ventilation system

6. Construction of roads

7. Installation of low voltage/medium voltage for MEP lighting systems

8. Installation of fire life safety systems

9. Construction of DLP four main stations (Key Metrics)

10. Construction of two underground stations (Al Zahiya and Abu Dhabi Airport)

11. Construction of one elevated station (Saadiyat)

12. Construction of one at-grade station (Yas)

13. Construction of Phase 1A: Al-Zahiyah to Yas Island (25.8km)

14. Construction of Phase 1B: Yas Island to the border of Abu Dhabi/Dubai (64.2km)

15. Construction of Phase 1D: Abu Dhabi airport delta junction and connection with Abu Dhabi airport station (9.2km)

Abu Dhabi Section:

1. Construction of at-grade section 65 km (in median 29 km, other than median 36 km)

2. Construction of tunnel 1.7 km (twin bores single track 1.7 km)

3. Cut and cover (1.4 km)

4. Construction of U through (1.1 km)

5. Construction of marine viaducts/cable stay 1.1 km

6. Construction of viaduct (typical spans and UBR’s) 12.5 km

7. Retaining walls 18.1 km

8. Construction of OBR’s and others 8 no.

D. Dubai Civil Works Package:

Dubai Civil Works Package:

1. Remaining early works

2. Temporary and permanent works

3. Construction of tunnels including MEP works

4. TSI compliance for emergency exits (number/distance of cross passages, shafts and ERP)

5. Installation of the tunnel ventilation system

6. Construction of roads

7. Installation of low voltage/medium voltage for MEP lighting systems

8. Installation of fire life safety systems

9. Construction of DLP one main station

10. Construction of one underground station (Jaddaf)

13. Construction of Phase 1C: Abu Dhabi/Dubai border to Al-Jaddaf (52.1km)

Dubai Section:

1. Construction of tunnel 23.7 km (twin bores single track 23.7 km)

2. Construction of two launching shafts for TBM’s

3. Construction of six tunnel ventilation shafts

4. Cut and cover (16.5 km)

5. Construction of U through (3.2 km)

6. Construction of a viaduct (3.3 km)

7. Retaining walls 5.5 km

E. Stations:

1. Construction of five main stations:

a. Construction of three underground stations at Al Zahiya, Abu Dhabi Airport, Jaddaf

b. Construction of an elevated station at Saadiyat

c. Construction of an at-grade station at Yas

2. Structures including front and back underground connections to civils

3. Provisions for expandability at some stations

4. MEP works (lighting, power supply, vertical circulation, HVAC)

5. Installation of light cleaning and water tank refilling facilities for trains at the platform at the terminal station

6. Passive provision for PSD’s

7. Installation of fire life safety systems

8. Construction of associated facilities

F. Rolling Stock:

Rail Systems:

1. Construction of tracks: ballasted track for at-grade and the majority of viaduct sections, slab track in the tunnel (Dubai), depot: ballast track and special tracks

2. Construction of four bulk power stations

3. Construction of one OCC in Shamama main depot

4. Construction of one backup OCC either in DJD

5. Construction of one depot

6. Construction of the control centre in Shahama

7. Construction of the security control centre in OCC, BOCC, stations and depot

8. Construction of 14 high-speed trainsets

Systems:

1. Construction of track: mainline slab track in tunnel, depot: ballast track and special tracks

2. Power distribution: OCS 25 kV AC, connection to the power grid, bulk power stations, low and medium-voltage systems

3. Signaling: ETCS L2, Bidirectional

4. Telecoms (MSN, SCADA, CCTV, ACS, PIS, PA, radio GSMR or FRMCS, telephones, master clock)

5. Integrated control and monitoring system

6. Asset protection systems (broken rail, weather condition detection, sand on track detection, auxiliary detection)

7. Maintenance management systems

8. Security and cyber security systems

9. Overall integration systems

Rolling Stock:

1. Max operating speed 320 kph

2. Standard gauge

3. Capacity 400~600 passengers

4. 25kV Operating voltage with a frequency of 50Hz

5. 200m overall length

6. Equipped with ERTMS Level 2 and GSM-R

7. Fitted with on-board diagnosis and monitoring system

8. TSI GC Gauge or equivalence compliance

9. Floor height – as per RS Selected

10. Adapted for UAE climate

11. Yellow plant for infra maintenance